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need

/nid/noun, verb1 syllable

Need means: require as useful, just, or proper.

Synonyms for need26

noun, as in a state of extreme poverty or destitution

indigence, penury, pauperism, pauperization

noun, as in the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior

noun, as in a condition requiring relief

noun, as in anything that is necessary but lacking

verb, as in require as useful, just, or proper

necessitate, ask, postulate, require, take, involve, call for, demand, claim, exact

verb, as in have need of

also used for need

occasion, use, desire, wish for, would like, will, be without, lack, be in need of

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does need mean?7

verb

1

require as useful, just, or proper“It takes nerve to do what she did”

2

have need of“This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner”

3

have or feel a need for“always needing friends and money”

noun

1

a state of extreme poverty or destitution“their indigence appalled him”

2

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior“we did not understand his motivation”

3

a condition requiring relief“she satisfied his need for affection”

4

anything that is necessary but lacking“he had sufficient means to meet his simple needs”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with need?32

Show 40 near rhymes

All 32 rhymes for need, grouped by syllable

Need in a sentence

  • If you need a change of pace, why don't you come for a visit?CK
  • When you travel abroad, you usually need a passport.CK
  • All we need now is action, not discussion.kremel
  • It began to rain, so he need not have watered the lawn.auxitt
  • While we hate force, we recognize the need for law and order.orcrist
  • If you should need any help, just let me know.AlanF_US
  • Air, like food, is a basic human need.Zifre
  • If our neighbors around the world are in need, let's lend a helping hand.CK

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of need

as a noun

plural
needs

as a verb

past tense
needed
present participle
needing
third-person singular
needs
past participle
needed